My Organization Thread

[Strouty]

Bill, you are like me, lots of great stuff that you can't use or get to. I am trying to keep myself from adding to the mess of tools I all ready have. It is hard, but I think you may need to let a few things go. Having the space to complete a project is way more satisfying than thinking about what you could do if you had the space. As you are aware, right now I am tripping over storage cabinets that are for my future stockroom, but I have to get them moved around so I still have a shop to work out of, otherwise I would probably go insane.

 

[matt_i]

Latest stuff:

16 in. Ball Joint Separator HF 63420 7.99
Air Hammer Replacement Chisel Spring HF 68275 1.69
3 Piece Long Air Chisel Set HF 68276 7.99

Today's shopping list:

4 Piece Short Air Chisel Set HF 68277 5.99 - not yet
Air Hammer Quick Release Chisel Holder HF 66621 4.99 - cool! - got it
4 Piece Solid Brass Industrial Quick Coupler Set HF 68241 2.79 - got the 5 piece
1/4" Male Steel Industrial Swivel Plug HF 68185 1.99 - decided no
1/4" Female to Male Swivel Connector HF 68196 4.99 - got it

Also got a pocket air gun.



Bill

What about some EMT and some #12 wire so you can get all the array of cords off the ceiling. Not saying you can't put EMT on the ceiling but what I see doesn't look very functional or safe. Does the Bridgeport have electrification? Why not start there with the tunnel-vision goal of getting that one machine operational and ready to use, tram the head and indicate the vise, then organize its tooling (collets, drill chuck(s), drill bits, milling cutters, fly cutters, boring head, taps, whatever) Then you have a machine to use going forward.

 

[xman_charl]

use these items for tool holders.

Get 6 ft length from hardware store, building supply.

Galvanized corners for dry wall.

Easy to cut, mod with a nibbler or sheet metal scissors.

Charl

 

[DFB]

From my experience shopping at Harbor Fright there will more piles of junk around

Carry on...or carry out Bill


This thread rocks man!

 

[L5wolvesf]

If you're like me you know where everything is. My shop isn't quite as stuffed but I'm getting there. I have to do a clean up day once a couple items get done and a few items get sold.

 

[bczygan]

I lot of good suggestions since I last checked in, and I will use them all and document as I go.

Yes, it's a Huot box with the drawers out. Top got bent in by something heavy and need to straighten it.

There IS way too much stuff in there. And the photos don't show the C'man table saw added a couple days ago.

Picked up some steel shelving to use in the shed, to put some of it on.

More photos, and photo explanations soon.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

.
.
Important Post!!!

So to continue with the discussion, I went down to the garage at 1 in the morning to take some more photos. This was to give some better shots to describe in detail everything in there.

I shortly realized it would be a good idea to shoot everything I already want to remove. So I went through the garage doing just that. I took photos of all the things that could go elsewhere. And eventually I photoed almost everything.

Epiphany!!!

What?........I asked myself, do I really want in there?

What is the purpose of the space? What are it's functions?

Right now it's turned into a warehouse, and I want a work space.

To work on what?




Well, first it must be able to support working on our cars. That's a given.

Then I want to work with metal and wood. Doing some things with metal supports automotive, so it's a good adjunct to it.

Wood working is different, so that can be entirely removed from this space. But I don't have an adequate space for wood working yet. And carpentry supports working on the house. So maybe I need some part of this space to allow me to do minor things that support working around the house.

Eventually all that will have it's own housing. For now, some bench space and a place for fasteners and minimal carpentry tools will do. Maybe after I clean out the basement better, that house support stuff can go down there.

OK, back to the garage. Based on the functions stated above, what is needed? Automotive and metal working are the functions.

Here's an off the cuff list.
Compressor
Roller tool box
Service cart
Welder
Fasteners
Work bench
Bulky tool storage
Grinder
Buffer
Wire wheel
Disk sander
Belt sander
Horizontal band saw
Lathe
Bridgeport

Obviously this is heavy on the metalworking, cause that's what I WANT to do the most. Automotive is what I HAVE to be able to do. And a bench fills the bill for household support and minor carpentry/plumbing/electrical.

What is excess in there? I took a bunch of photos, and will post them with explanations, but for now I'll give some written documentation.

Before I do, I want to say what a revelation this method of analyzing a space is. By taking photos, and then trying to break things down, it's led me to having to decide what this space really is.

So on to the written description. Here are the things excess to the stated functions.

6 of the 7 compressors
8 of the 10 bench grinders
3 of the 4 drill presses
1 of 2 welders
4 of the 5 vises
Most all of the boxes of stuff. Anything needed must be organized and put in accessible and marked storage, close to where used.

The following things also need to be removed:
Swivel chair
Extra trash can
Extra hand carry tool boxes
2nd Bridgeport head and ram
Blast cabinet and filter
The aforementioned table saw
Pieces of steel angle iron from bed frames
Trailer hitch inserts.
Emmert vise is removed, and in back hall. Need to put in woodworking shed.


In addition, the required compressor can be permanently installed on the back porch, freeing up even more space. The horizontal band saw can be put on wheels. A narrow rolling table with locking casters, can be used for a moveable layout table for the project at hand.

2 nice stools, made out of steel rims, might need to be replaced with one easily moveable tall shop chair.

The 3 SnapOn wall cabinets are pretty, but need to be utilized for needed things, and organized.

2 Stronghold cabinets need to be looked at, to see their function in the space. Right now they are dead storage.

Need to decide on the welder most often needed, and remove all others.

Shop heater and venting need to be installed, instead of taking up space.

Hose reel needs to be hung.



Getting late, so more tomorrow.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

Morning and I'm imagining how easy it's going to be to work in that space, onces the excess is removed.

The big question, is where is all that stuff going to go?

Don't want to sell most of it, so to remove it quickly, I'll just take it to another part of the house or put some things in a shed.

Photos are still coming, so don't despair.

Bill

 

[ScottsGT]

Morning and I'm imagining how easy it's going to be to work in that space, onces the excess is removed.

The big question, is where is all that stuff going to go?

Don't want to sell most of it, so to remove it quickly, I'll just take it to another part of the house or put some things in a shed.

Photos are still coming, so don't despair.

Bill

And there's the problem. Bill, sell off all those extra welders, vises and drill presses. Until you realize you have a hoarding issue and you are using possible projects as an excuse to keep duplicates of everything, this cycle will continue. As soon as you have this area "organized" you'll start finding empty room to bring more stuff in.
Example, how often do you use a blast cabinet? If once in a blue moon, find a shop that can do it for you for a few bucks. Think outsourcing on some items.

 

[bczygan]

And there's the problem. Bill, sell off all those extra welders, vises and drill presses. Until you realize you have a hoarding issue and you are using possible projects as an excuse to keep duplicates of everything, this cycle will continue. As soon as you have this area "organized" you'll start finding empty room to bring more stuff in.
Example, how often do you use a blast cabinet? If once in a blue moon, find a shop that can do it for you for a few bucks. Think outsourcing on some items.

Of all the machines listed in this space, I've used the drill press, bench grinder, belt sander, vise and pancake compressor. Hooked up the Bridgeport and tried it out. Same with the horizontal band saw.

Never used the others for projects.

That doesn't mean I don't need or want to have the blast cabinet, and I do. Just need to find a place for it. It can be anywhere. Same for other types of drill presses, extra bench grinders, welders, compressors, etc.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

So here are some more photos and comments:

AC/DC HF Arc Welder. Never hooked up. Usse this or the Lincoln Tombstone???

This all goes out, including the table saw beyond.

Goes in the van, or into the camping gear shed.

Stuff for the heater install. Use it!

There's a lathe back in there somewhere. Restore and use.

Don't know what's in the locked cabinet. The green drill press has to go.

Horizontal band saw. Can't get to it. Blue thing on the right is a bar folder. Also needs to go.

Boxes full of???

The tombstone

Blast cabinet and more boxes. Got to go.

Best compressor. Not hooked up.

Been using the grinder here. Non working compressor that has to go. Another toolbox.

More boxes that have to go.

3 more compressors and more toolboxes. Will keep the pancake as a user for now.

Stronghold cabinet with toolboxes and a belt sander on top. Need toolboxes to relate to their uses.

Cleanup needed on aisle 9! Woodworking stuff, but also used in metalworking. So where does it go?

Junk around the Bridgeport. Gallons can go elsewhere, as I have small squeeze bottles.

That's it for now. Time to go work it.

Forgot to mention. I have a shear that is still in my van.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

It's 95 today but the clear out, sorting and cleanup has begun.

Interrupted by a 2 hour nap and watching Manchester by the Sea with Julie.

Photos soon.

Bill

 

[matt_i]

Don't want to sell most of it

I think that's your problem. Start by listing 1 item per week, or make a list and knock them off one at a time, on craigslist until you've killed off the excess. Otherwise you're just creating a swamp somewhere else.

Also I suggest selling off the small hand toolboxes and pool the money to something bigger and stationary with more drawers. The hinged top on those is the space killer.

I have another suggestion. I'm not trying to humblebrag but I'm an owner of 5 vehicles and 4 of those have more than 150k on the clock, 3 are north of 225k. I'm no stranger to repairs, but I've fixed them all with a paved level driveway, a floor jack, and an assortment of tools stored inside the shop. My secret? Schedule repair work as much as possible for non-snowy winter months.

It would be nice to have an enclosed shop for those off-season repairs, but trying to merge a machine shop and an auto repair bay are nearly impossible unless you have a huge space. If you have somewhere to park your car(s) inside then you also have a place to work on them, imo those two functions should be merged, just carry the tools back and forth.

As far as your welders, I'd sell the HF model and keep the tombstone. OR, sell both of those stick welders and use the proceeds to buy a Mig welder.

 

[ragdoll]

At some point a man has to know his limitations. Your limitations are set by your real estate. Hate to say it, but I keep hearing words in your posts used by hoarders all the time. "Plans for it, need it, etc" how many welders and bench grinders and bench presses does a man with limited space really need?
I've watched and cleaned up behind my mother for the past year now moving her out of her home and into an assisted living facility. She's addicted to QVC. I have sitting in my basement an electric tiller she thought I really needed. I tried to talk her into returning it, she wouldn't have any part of that. I ask her about the new kitchen gadgets she just bought and she "has planes for it" even though she cannot even stand at a kitchen counter and use them. She has two storage rooms full of things like this that I don't dare start liquidating as long as she's still alive.
And I'll add, I have a touch of the symptoms myself in addition to my boys stacking it deep in my basement. I've got so many mustang parts all over the place. Doors, fenders, engine on a stand, front bumper in a huge box, 2 sets of seats......
And I want a planer so bad I can't stand it. I just have no room unless I want my garage to turn into a crawl space also. But I'm also doing my best to rearrange, build new pull out shelving and getting rid of **** in general.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I really appreciate having clean working space and organization. I too am slowely working towards it.
Now I'm off to dig through the garage to find my weedeater.

Hoarder. That's exactly what I thought when I first saw this thread. As I've been following it is clear by the OP's lanuguage and actions. Showing off his "stuff" and justifying it all. And what's up with all the rambling in his first several posts?

Good luck with it...

 

[bczygan]

I think that's your problem. Start by listing 1 item per week, or make a list and knock them off one at a time, on craigslist until you've killed off the excess. Otherwise you're just creating a swamp somewhere else.

Also I suggest selling off the small hand toolboxes and pool the money to something bigger and stationary with more drawers. The hinged top on those is the space killer.

I have another suggestion. I'm not trying to humblebrag but I'm an owner of 5 vehicles and 4 of those have more than 150k on the clock, 3 are north of 225k. I'm no stranger to repairs, but I've fixed them all with a paved level driveway, a floor jack, and an assortment of tools stored inside the shop. My secret? Schedule repair work as much as possible for non-snowy winter months.

It would be nice to have an enclosed shop for those off-season repairs, but trying to merge a machine shop and an auto repair bay are nearly impossible unless you have a huge space. If you have somewhere to park your car(s) inside then you also have a place to work on them, imo those two functions should be merged, just carry the tools back and forth.

As far as your welders, I'd sell the HF model and keep the tombstone. OR, sell both of those stick welders and use the proceeds to buy a Mig welder.

Selling the things I just bought, before I use them is pretty ridiculous in my book. Besides some extra vises and a few too many grinders, I have purposes in mind for each and every tool.

And I DO NOT have a giant space, but I do have multiple spaces, that will accommodate everything I have and more that I will be getting.

This is a very small setup compared to many on GJ.

And no, I do not want a giant roller. What storage I have seems adequate, Maybe a side cabinet would help with any future tools. At worst I'd get another HF roller.

The small boxes I have are worth nothing, so selling them doesn't make sense. I have a place to put everything I'm taking out, so worrying about the stuff would just slow things down.

I've been working on my vans in the street. Using the drive is my goal. The garage is too small for any vehicle besides a motorcycle or bicycle. So you're right, I must do all repairs in good weather. My goal is to get the driveway clear for working right at the garage. Then I can pull out the service cart and go to town. Plus I'll be close enough to pull tools from the roller. Right now it's multiple trips from the street.

I also agree that a nice 240V Mig with gas would be my main welder. Not in the budget yet. When it is, the others will go on another location.

I'm pushing woodworking stuff out, which is hard because I don't yet have an organized space for them. I want to keep them here so I can use them, but they have to go. Woodworking and metalworking are my pleasurable activities. Automotive is my necessary evil.

Bill

 

[bczygan]

Hoarder. That's exactly what I thought when I first saw this thread. As I've been following it is clear by the OP's lanuguage and actions. Showing off his "stuff" and justifying it all. And what's up with all the rambling in his first several posts?

Good luck with it...

I'm not showing everything to show it off, but to make decisions about each item, although I am very proud to have it all.

It is a horde if I can't get to everything to use it, thus the purpose of this thread.

And if the first posts were rambling, that's just how I work towards focusing in, on what needs doing. Bear with me. I'll get there.

Bill

 

[Pathfinders]

Holy **** People. The man is making a effort to make a work space. Bill, I have no advice as how to help, but I will follow this thread so I can learn from you. Relax people, you will live longer.

 

[dfiler2]

You have a lot of really nice tools, it will be interesting watching your progress. I wish you the best.

 

[joe--h]

The only thing that would fix this is a fire.

Beyond hope, and an excuse for everything he has and the new things he buys daily to add to it.

Joe H

 

[matt_i]

And no, I do not want a giant roller. What storage I have seems adequate, Maybe a side cabinet would help with any future tools. At worst I'd get another HF roller.

The small boxes I have are worth nothing, so selling them doesn't make sense. I have a place to put everything I'm taking out, so worrying about the stuff would just slow things down.

Hopefully what I am giving you is somehow helpful, but every small hand-carry box has something stored on top of it, a motorized tool or a bin of parts. I get the reason why, its a valuable flat storage space and I've done the same many times. Problem is it usually locks the drawers below via pins or internal linkage, and so every time you need into the box, its a relocation project to move the "blocker" to another temporary spot. Also, the swinging top eats a lot of valuable vertical space for potentially the same volume as one more drawer, whereas "more drawers" gains space. (I'm going to WAG here that the swinging top and its opening radius eats the volume of 4 drawers, almost as much as the box below (!!) And if you had a bigger roller, you'd potentially gain even more flat space on the top.

Bottom line is you need more drawers and/or more shelves to clear this up, be it in this shop or another space. And a labeler which could be sharpie marker and some masking tape.

 

[bczygan]

Hopefully what I am giving you is somehow helpful, but every small hand-carry box has something stored on top of it, a motorized tool or a bin of parts. I get the reason why, its a valuable flat storage space and I've done the same many times. Problem is it usually locks the drawers below via pins or internal linkage, and so every time you need into the box, its a relocation project to move the "blocker" to another temporary spot. Also, the swinging top eats a lot of valuable vertical space for potentially the same volume as one more drawer, whereas "more drawers" gains space. (I'm going to WAG here that the swinging top and its opening radius eats the volume of 4 drawers, almost as much as the box below (!!) And if you had a bigger roller, you'd potentially gain even more flat space on the top.

Bottom line is you need more drawers and/or more shelves to clear this up, be it in this shop or another space. And a labeler which could be sharpie marker and some masking tape.

I like the idiots that say burn it down.....pretty funny.

I totally agree about having to move things around to get to them.

And stacking things up isn't a solution. Piles of boxes with god knows what in them. Hand carry boxes can be useful, if you know what's in them and can open the drawers.

There's just too many things in there. And many of them need to NOT be in there.

This is changing a storage space into a work space.

I've been putting things in there to keep them secure and safe. Now I need to quit using it as a store room.

Labeling is next. I need to take some blue painters tape and label the drawers on the file cabinet. I keep having to open them all to find what I'm looking for.

So some things have been removed. Table saw, 4 crowbars, 4 sets of steel bed rails, 3 hitch inserts with balls, boxes of woodworking stuff, handsaws and drill bits, bike rack, 4 small compressors, etc.

Now I have the space to go through everything else.

Photo:

Bill

 

[Strouty]

Keep moving forward, you have the right idea.

 

[bczygan]

Keep moving forward, you have the right idea.

Thanks Strouty.

I value your advice and appreciate your support. I know what you are going through with your Lista Load.

Whenever a lot is added to a space, you have to redo it. Mine was slow acquisition, but yours was in one fell swoop!

Bill

 

[ajohno]

Moving along nicely.

 

[bczygan]

Going to be in the 90's again today, so I'm going to get started early while it's relatively cooler.

Bill

 

[mjchamp]

Going to be in the 90's again today, so I'm going to get started early while it's relatively cooler.

Bill

Time to add an A/C unit. Best thing I ever did for the hot / humid Midwest summers

 

[DFB]

Now I have the space to go through everything else.

Photo:

Bill

Hehe...got some flow going now Bill!

 

[ScottsGT]

Keep going Bill! It didn't all show up overnight, it won't be arranged overnight either. My son came over to help me clean off some of my shelves in the garage a few months ago. I had a bag full of PVC joints. He looked at me and said, "Dad, you finished the bathroom remodel 12-13 years ago. Throw these out! So I did.
Two weeks ago I was back at Lowe's buying a 1/2" elbow. Yea, so I spent .90 cents on one elbow. But I had less clutter in my area.
This thread has me thinking I need to step up my game plan of ripping out the shelves under my stairwell in the garage and proceed with building my stand up/pull out shelving system I'm planning out. I was going to put it off until I'm on my 2 week shutdown at the end of the year.

 

[ScottsGT]

I'll also add, during that cleanup a few months back, I discovered 4 rolls of landscaping cloth that we had. Just the weekend before the wife talked about going out and buying a roll to work in the yard. I now have all 4 rolls stored in her work area in the basement!

 

[sberry]

1 welder, 1 comp, one vise, 1 small drill press, spend time selling off the rest. Want is different than need, if you really needed a blast cab and a Bridgeport they would have been working. I don't need it, don't have it, on rare occasion will go to a Buds I can use for free,,, still don't, cant even remember when the last time I did.
I am a career welder so that is a factor but really do most work with an adjustable, Channelocks and a handful of other hand tools and the special stuff is usually done with other small stuff I collect as needed. I don't buy anything just because its a deal. Still got a big Baldor in storage, just don't need it.

 

[sberry]

In fact the longer I go the less I need some of the stuff, have learned faster easier and cheaper along the way. I quit collecting tools, not scared to buy something I need but have been going to the dump more than the store and actually throw some stuff could have been sold but tired of dealing with it, just wanted it gone and out of the way.

 

[ScottsGT]

1 welder, 1 comp, one vise, 1 small drill press, spend time selling off the rest.

Reading Bills posts, sounds like he needs to sell all his welders and get the MIG he really wants.

 

[jp828108]

Do what you want, but I see no NEED to throw things away or sell them off IF you have another space to store them in. Shuffle things around and get this area set up for the tasks you want to accomplish from it. Then move on to the next area and build that to accomplish what you want from it. It is a pain to shuffle stuff from space to space, but eventually you will have a auto shop area, wood shop, metal shop setup, and backups hopefully stored away for when something goes out or breaks. Why sell it or scrap it if you have ideas of a shop to use it in. Also if you set up multiple small shops than the redundancy makes total sense. Why have to trudge across the property in the rain and snow to use a drill press if you have the desire to do a wood shop with one, and a metal shop with one.

 

[sberry]

To tell the truth could do most everything I do with a 180 mig and certainly could for basic auto and home. I got other stuff, I use it because I do and I can but could easily make it with a small feeder.
I have 10 machines, this one does 95% of it.

 

[ScottsGT]

I make do with a Miller 135 110V MIG. Granted, I'm not doing heavy duty stuff. But it meets all of my needs. Just about anything on a car can be done with a 110V MIG.

 

[mtnwalton]

Here's a couple shots of part of my shop; just got four of the Craftsman Trio cabinets, now i can store most of my clamps in three drawers. Nice to get a lot of stuff behind doors as well.

The bench is one i built a couple years ago for layout / assembly. Originally I built it with a three sided apron and raisable top with gas springs. The fourth apron has toggle clamps to hold everything tight. At the time I was planning on raising the top, rolled against a wall and storing table saw inside the opening. Space is at a real premium and only put the wife's car inside in cold weather. I built drawers for both sides on full extension slides to hold some clamps and layout tools.

I've got a heavier bench also on the other wall of the garage, mainly for metal work. I retired as a 38 year machinist from Alcoa in 2007. Also kept busy designing and building stage sets during my working years and from 2007 til 2012 ran a scene shop. Sure miss having a large shop space.

 

[sberry]

Sure miss having a large shop space.

Only reason I got it is need and it was a good idea at the time and still may be but I aint gonna retire and fix rust buckets for a hobby. Onlyist reason I do what I got to is I got to, the problems are simply things in the way. Painting isn't a hobby, I don't do it for fun. Not being able to paint is a problem.
I don't collect machine tools. Today so much easier to buy a 5$ part than spend all day making one and most of the time I can make it from something or do it with a grinder. I am not working so much anymore with job shop built wear and tear items but factory and after market parts available with speedy delivery, if I count on it I have a few parts or a back up plan.

 

[bczygan]

Do what you want, but I see no NEED to throw things away or sell them off IF you have another space to store them in. Shuffle things around and get this area set up for the tasks you want to accomplish from it. Then move on to the next area and build that to accomplish what you want from it. It is a pain to shuffle stuff from space to space, but eventually you will have a auto shop area, wood shop, metal shop setup, and backups hopefully stored away for when something goes out or breaks. Why sell it or scrap it if you have ideas of a shop to use it in. Also if you set up multiple small shops than the redundancy makes total sense. Why have to trudge across the property in the rain and snow to use a drill press if you have the desire to do a wood shop with one, and a metal shop with one.

I'm worried about you.

Many people think I'm crazy. Have you been peeking into my brain?

You just expressed my thoughts perfectly.

Like I said.......I'm worried about you!

Bill

 

[bczygan]

Today I'm pulling out some of the machines that aren't set up for use.

Photos later.

Bill

 

[ScottsGT]

I too have discovered that there needs to be drawers/storage for everything I own. Built a woodworking bench and now I realized I have nowhere for all my clamps. Going to build a couple or three drawers into the bench for my next project. Will also be used to cleanup some of the horizontal **** collectors, AKA: Flat or open tool box tops.